Vacuum cleaner handle lock

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly having a base with an air inlet, a handle, a dirt container, an air passage joining the inlet and the dirt container, an intermediate member connected to the base and handle providing relative movement between the intermediate member and the base and handle, and a handle lock. The handle lock includes a key, a protrusion extending from the base, and a detent in the handle. The key slides against the protrusion to generate a force that biases the key towards the handle as the base is moved towards a parked base position, and the detent is positioned such that the force moves the key into the detent when the handle is positioned in a parked handle position. The intermediate member may have a pair of arms straddling a central portion of the base, in which case the protrusion may be between the arms.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly comprising:
 a base adapted to move on a surface being cleaned and having an elongated air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned; 
 a handle having a dirt collection container associated therewith; 
 an air passage joining the air inlet and the dirt collection container; 
 an intermediate member movably connected to the base to provide relative movement between the base and the intermediate member, the intermediate member further being movably connected to the handle to provide relative movement between the handle and the intermediate member; 
 a handle lock comprising a key movably mounted on the intermediate member, a protrusion extending from the base and a detent in the handle, the key and protrusion being positioned such that the key slides against the protrusion to generate a force that biases the key towards the handle as the base is moved relative to the intermediate member towards a parked base position, and wherein the detent is positioned such that the force moves an end of the key into the detent when the handle is positioned relative to the intermediate member in a parked handle position. 
 
     
     
       2. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the relative movement between the base and the intermediate member comprises relative rotation about an axis aligned generally parallel with the elongated air inlet. 
     
     
       3. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the handle extends along a handle axis extending between the intermediate member and a grip located proximate an end of the handle, and the relative movement between the handle and the intermediate member comprises relative rotation about an axis aligned generally perpendicular to the handle axis. 
     
     
       4. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle extends along a handle axis extending between the intermediate member and a grip located proximate an end of the handle, and the relative movement between the handle and the intermediate member comprises relative rotation about an axis aligned generally perpendicular to the handle axis. 
     
     
       5. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the key engages the protrusion when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position to resiliently hold the base and the intermediate member in the parked base position. 
     
     
       6. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the key comprises a key detent that engages the protrusion when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position, and the handle lock further comprises a spring adapted to bias the protrusion into the key detent when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position. 
     
     
       7. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the key slides against an inclined surface of the protrusion to generate the force. 
     
     
       8. A vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly comprising:
 a base adapted to move on a surface being cleaned and having an air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, the air inlet being elongated in a lateral direction; 
 a handle having a dirt collection container associated therewith; 
 an air passage joining the air inlet and the dirt collection container; 
 an intermediate member comprising:
 a pair of arms disposed along the lateral direction, the arms straddling a central portion of the base and being connected to the base to permit the intermediate member to rotate relative to the base about a first axis aligned generally parallel with the lateral direction, and 
 an upper joint connecting the intermediate member to the handle, the upper joint being adapted to permit the handle to move relative to the intermediate member; and 
 
 a pivot lock comprising:
 a protrusion extending from the central portion of the base, the protrusion being positioned such that it is located between the arms and extends towards the intermediate member when the base and the intermediate member are oriented with respect to one another in a parked base position, 
 a detent formed in the handle, and 
 a key movably mounted on the intermediate member and located generally between the arms with respect to the lateral direction, the key having a first end that extends between the legs and contacts the protrusion when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position, and a second end that extends into the detent when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position and the handle and the intermediate member are oriented with respect to one another in a parked handle position. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is located between the first axis and the key when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position. 
     
     
       10. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a spring positioned to generate a resilient force that urges the key towards the detent when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position. 
     
     
       11. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the spring is positioned to bias the protrusion towards the key when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position. 
     
     
       12. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the protrusion is pivotally mounted to a remainder of the base. 
     
     
       13. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the handle extends along a handle axis extending between the intermediate member and a grip located proximate an end of the handle, and the upper joint is adapted to permit the handle to move relative to the intermediate member about an axis generally perpendicular to the handle axis. 
     
     
       14. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first end of the key engages the protrusion when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position to resiliently hold the base and the intermediate member in the parked base position. 
     
     
       15. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first end of the key comprises a key detent that engages the protrusion when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position, and the handle lock further comprises a spring adapted to bias the protrusion into the key detent when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position. 
     
     
       16. A vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly comprising:
 a base adapted to move on a surface being cleaned and having an air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned; 
 a handle having a dirt collection container associated therewith; 
 an air passage joining the air inlet and the dirt collection container; 
 an intermediate member movably connected to the base to provide relative movement between the base and the intermediate member, the intermediate member further being movably connected to the handle to provide relative movement between the handle and the intermediate member; 
 a handle lock, movably mounted to the intermediate member, the handle lock having a first lock part adapted to selectively engage the base to selectively prevent relative movement between the base and the intermediate member and a second lock part operatively connected to the first lock part and adapted to selectively engage the handle to selectively prevent relative movement between the handle and the intermediate member, wherein the handle lock comprises a key and the second lock part comprises an end of the key having a protrusion adapted to engage a detent on the handle when the handle and the intermediate member are oriented with respect to one another in a parked handle position and the base and the intermediate member are oriented with respect to one another in a parked base position. 
 
     
     
       17. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the air inlet is elongated in a lateral direction, and relative movement between the base and the intermediate member comprises relative rotation about an axis aligned generally parallel with the lateral direction. 
     
     
       18. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the handle extends along a handle axis extending between the intermediate member and a grip located proximate an end of the handle, and the relative movement between the handle and the intermediate member comprises relative rotation about an, axis aligned generally perpendicular to the handle axis. 
     
     
       19. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate member comprises a pair of arms straddling a central portion of the base and being connected to the base to permit the intermediate member to rotate relative to the base about a first axis. 
     
     
       20. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a spring adapted to bias the second lock part into engagement with the handle when the base and the intermediate member are oriented with respect to one another in a parked base position and the handle and the intermediate member are oriented with respect to one another in a parked handle position. 
     
     
       21. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the spring is further adapted to generate a resilient force that prevents the base from moving relative to the intermediate member when the base and the intermediate member are in the parked base position. 
     
     
       22. The vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the handle lock comprises a key and the first lock part comprises an end of the key having one of a protrusion or a detent adapted to engage the other of a protrusion or a detent on the base when the base and the intermediate member are oriented with respect to one another in a parked base position.